Expanding Diversity in UCSD Student Population

UC San Diego announced on Friday that it will be accepting a record number of transfer students and a more diverse student base when classes begin in the fall. The university will admit 3,692 freshmen and 3,061 new students via transfer this September.

607 Mexican-Americans and 161 Latinos will be among the freshmen, up 18.8 percent and 27.8 percent from last year’s totals respectively. Incoming transfer students from “underrepresented” ethnic groups are also up 13.6 percent over last year. Overall, incoming freshmen carried a 3.96 high school grade point average; transfers held a 3.38 college GPA. 53 percent of freshmen and 61 percent of transfers are local to Southern California.

The University of California system as a whole faces budget woes in the coming year, with the state cutting $650 million in funding for 2011-2012. To cut this gap, more admissions are being offered to out-of-state and international students who pay a higher tuition than that offered to California state residents. A side effect of the policy is a broadening of diversity in the student body. 274 out-of-state residents and 432 international students are among the incoming freshmen, with an additional 35 out-of-state students and 464 international students transferring.